Watch



Feb. 24, 1931. J. BULOVA 1,793,995

WATCH Filed March 24, 1927 INVENTOR Wm Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEOE JOSEPH BULOVA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BULGVA WATCH COMPANY, INC.,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WATCH Application filed March 24, 192

The invention relates to watches and watch cases, and the object is to provide a very economical and advantageous construction suitable for small watches.

WVatches have long been kn own wherein the movement is inserted from the rear into a body integral with the front bezel. It also long been common in these and other watches to hold the movement in the case means of a ring which closely encircles the sides of the movement and closely fits into the bony of the case. Such a ring may also serve to n'event the entrance of dust into he sides of the movement. It is also known irom the Marotti Patent No. 1,496,859, dated June it), 192%, to combine a flanged ring encircling the movement with a flexible, transparent shield covering the back of the movement, the shield being retained by the ring, and very advantageous protection for the movement being secured.

One of the features of the present invention consists in exceedingly simple and very effective means for positively catching such a ring or band in the case, giving great security for the movement or firm retention for the shield, and permitting ready insertion by simply pushing the ring in until it snaps, and ready removal by simply pulling or prying the ring out. The ring is made of a thin band of metal, from which individual small protuberances are Forced out to snap under the edge of an inwardly projecting fixed flange of the case body. These protuberances can be disposed at those points in the circuit of the band where there will be the most suitable amount of fixed for their engagement, this depending npon the relation between the shape of the case and of the movement, whi ii usually difi er from each other so that the tired flange into which the movement inserted is oi varying widths in different places, and at certain regions may disappear. The local ized yielding ailorded by such protuberances makes practicable the insertion and removal of the band in the exceedingly small dimensions of such watches, while gaining the advantage of the secure holding. The band is provided at the rear with an external ledge which overlaps the fixed flange, forming a Serial No. 1T7,933.

stop and a joint-closer, and the edge of LL19 fixed flange embraced between this ledge on the outside and the protuberances on the other side. Another ledge or flange projecting wardly or the rear edge of the bend overl" the be k of the movement around the edge and retains the flexible, transparent shield.

Other features and combinations of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds,

In the accompanying drawing forming part hereof:

Fig. l is a d 'gonal sectional view llllOl a watch embody ing the invention, the SeCill'ln being tal on the plane indicated by the line 1 2, the watch being shown closed in g. 1 and with the bezel up;

2 is a rear view looking at the back of the movement, with the back of the case opened;

3 is a rear view of the body of the case and the band, the rear end of the latter with its flanges or ledges having been cut away, the movement d the case back being omitted; and

Fig. 4 a 1 erspective view of the hand or ring.

The body 1 and bezel 2 are preferably made in one shell, and the back 3 is hinged to the body. A sheet-metal piece 4 is soldered into the body shell, this piece having a wall 5 which is telescoped into the surrounding wall of the shell, forming two thicknesses, the wall 5 projecting beyond the rear edge of the shell so as to form a neck to receive the flange 6 of the back 3 From the rear edge of th wall 5 of the inner piece flange or overhang 7 is extended inward, the opening in this flange following the lines the mm ement 8, which may i of the flange 7, which it overlaps at the back by a narrow flange or ledge 11 suitably formed outward from the rear edge of the band. An interned flange 12 on thesa-me end or edge of the band projects inward over the edge of the movement, and holds the edge of a celluloid or like shield 13 between it and the movement.

At suitable points, or other points few in number and widely spaced about the circuit of the band, the thin meal thereof is forced or struck ontwarc to makethe small rounded protuberances 14 These are spaced from the flange or ledge ll by approximately the thickness of the etal of the flXe-d over- MP1,." me a. hang image I, so also .e oand is pained l M +L -fi into piece cage or the 1 N i l .1 11 w flange 4 1;; here. oeuieen the; pro iances and the 11-,

The movement may be p it l i i necessary to snap all the ore noorances pas;

the edge of the lined oveinang one since the n'otnberance or protuberances one endor side can first be forced past the overhang i then the others, making it possible to and unseat the l too much effort or s rain in small, d cate .vatches.

I claim: 1. In a watch-case, the combination of an inwardly extending flange the inner edge or" which follows the shape of the movement,

and a removable thin band fitting about the movement within the opening of said flange, said band being formed with individual small external protuberances adapted to snap and hold under said edge, nevertheless permitting the band to be readily inserted and withdrawn by reason of the slight localized yieldin 2. In a watch-case,

localized yielding.

3. In a watch-case of shape different from that of the movement 'the combination of a body shell into which the movement is inserted from therear, a case back, a piece telescoped into the Wall of the body forming a wall of double thickness, the rear portion of the combination of an inwardly extending flange the inner edge of drawnby reason of the slight localized yield l. In a watch, the combination of an inwardly extending rear flange forming part of the case, the inner edge of which flange follows the shape of the movement, and into which the movementis inserted from the reaiu a flexible transparent shield covering the back 0'3 the movement, and a removable thin fitting losely about the movement and ii 0 said flange, saidband being formed with means its rear edge for retaining said sheet and Wlbll individual small externalprotuberances in its wall adapted to snap and hold under the edgeof said flange.

5. in a watch, the combination of an 1nwardly cending rear flange forming part the case, the inner edgevof which flange follows the shape of the movement, and into which the movement isinserted "from the rear, a flexible transparent shield covering the back of the movement, and a removable thin band fitting closely about the movement and into said flange, said band being formed at the rear with an internal flange to overlie the back of the movement and being also formed with individual mall external protuberances in its wall adapted to engage under the edge of said case flange, said protuberances being of such character as to permit the band to be withdrawn from the case.

JOSEPH BULVA 

